tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14355716.post7259793694741861538..comments2023-10-07T18:37:45.321+11:00Comments on The Truth Will Set You Free: Spiritual leadership (5)Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519210859079598351noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14355716.post-64206648308418616942008-12-03T07:40:00.000+11:002008-12-03T07:40:00.000+11:00The NT "elders" seem to have had some sort of "off...The NT "elders" seem to have had some sort of "official" recognition. (Titus 1:5)<BR/><BR/>However, in the ecclesia in which I grew up, there were no appointed elders. All we had were democratically ELECTED "Arranging Brethren", who we were carefully taught, were NOT to be regarded as elders in the Biblical sense. We were however encouraged to take the qualifications for eldership into account when voting - but for various "political" reasons NOT everybody always did that properly!<BR/><BR/>There were of course a RARE few members in some ecclesias, who did have the Biblical qualifications for eldership. They were often NOT Arranging Brethren. When people needed the "services" of an elder, they would seek them out privately. I suspect that many had to go outside their home ecclesias to find a true elder.<BR/><BR/>I am eternally grateful to have known some of these truly Biblical elders from a former generation, whose example and ministry contributed greatly to my spiritual development.<BR/><BR/>AllonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com